Oh Christmas Tree and Crazy Hair...

Saturday we went on search for the perfect Christmas tree. We drove up to Beaver Dam (about 28 miles) and trudged, yes trudged, through a foot of snow with Laura and Kaitlyn. Snowballs were thrown, three-year olds fell into the snow and cried because she couldn't get up, and eventually we found it...

...a 10-foot Pinyon pine tree. It was the perfect shape and didn't have any companions sprouting from it.  Aaron pulled out the handy dandy saw and sliced away (no chainsaws for us). I'm glad I told the girlies to move because they would have been flattened. Aaron and I dragged it back to the car (it was quite heavy) and actually got it onto the roof of our Pacifica. Aaron tied it off masterfully and home we headed.

We got the tree inside, but the tree stand Mom and Dad had was way too small and cracked, so the tree fell over. We leaned the poor thing against the wall for a day and a half until Dad got back with a new tree stand (It didn't take him that long to go get one. He had to go to Provo and brought one home with him.).

This morning Aaron and I carried the tree through the house into the other living room and got it standing and gave it some much needed water. I then hung the lights in preparation of the girlies' arrival home from school. After much sorting and hanging, this is the finished result:

the biggest Christmas tree we have ever had! Might I say it seems more a Christmas bush than tree, but it smells wonderful and makes my girlies happy.

What more is needed?

The following is a random Avery photo... she just had to wear her grandpa's crazy Halloween hair.

She thought she was pretty funny...

She was right.

New York City...

My mom and I had been planning our New York trip since I was a senior in high school.  Since I graduated ten years ago we decided it was finally time to go.  We left November 19th and got home Thanksgiving Day.  What an amazing place!  I've never been to such a busy city before.  We staying in Queens, but were able to take the subway into Times Square each day.  If you've never ridden on a subway you are truly missing out.  What a great mode of transportation... I loved it!  We both felt perfectly safe the entire time.  And there were so many nice people.  In fact, the first day we were there we met a large group of missionaries going to the Manhattan Temple.  It was fun to talk to them. 

We spent the majority of our time in Manhattan, and we just walked from there to the other places we wanted to see.  We went to Central Park and ate one of the best hot dogs ever, walked 5th Avenue (went into Tiffany's to dream), walked around Times Square many times... the ToysRUs was pretty amazing.  They had a six story ferris wheel and one of the t-rexs from Jurassic Park in there.  We went to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty (I was so proud... I didn't get sick on the ferry) and went to the 86th floor observatory in the Empire State Building.  Chinatown was awful... too crowded and frustrating!  Battery Park was pretty cool... there were many street vendors there.  We saw the United Nations building and Wall Street.  The World Trade Center site made me cry though I've never been super patriotic.  Seeing the memorials that have been placed there and to think of the lives that were lost was humbling.

The shopping was amazing... FAO Schwartz was an amazing toy store.  I wished I had a lot more money to get the girlies stuff there.  They had a muppet maker area, kind of like Build-A-Bear where you create your own muppet.  Alas, they were $117, so no muppet for the girlies.  We saw Rockefeller Center and the tree being strung with lights.  I got Aaron a Dwight bobblehead from the NBC store and we saw the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes.  Man, they can dance!  The girlies would have loved it.

A chipping sparrow and pidgeon at the Liberty Island Ferry boarding dock.

Times Square our first day.

View of part of the city from the Empire State Building.

Lady Liberty herself.

The fountain in Central Park that was in Enchanted.

Overall the very best part for me was spending a week with my mom.  She has always been my best friend and I love to spend time with her.  To be honest it has been hard living so far from her the past year and a half.  I suppose California isn't that far from us, but I lived 5 blocks from her for 4 years.  It makes a difference.  I love you Mom!  Thanks for such an awesome trip!

New Blog...

Well, I finally sat down and created a blog specifically for my photography and other creative interests.  You can find it under my profile on blogger, or, here's the address: http://creativejuiceflows.blogspot.com/.  Check it out.

My Mimo...

At the beginning of October I drove out to California with my sis, Cortney (C-Dog). We were going to see my grandmother, who I have always called Mimo, who was in the Oroville Hospital. I had gone to school that morning (I leave at 530 a.m.) and after two classes Mom called and said we should come, so I drove all the way back home to pack (1 1/2 hours), packed and gave my girlies loves, then drove to Provo (4 1/2 hours) to pick Cortney up. We then drove all night to Gridley, CA. We went to the hospital and spent the day with Mom and Mimo. By the time I got back to my parents' house and into bed, it was about 1130 p.m. So, I'd been up 46 hours. It was a good thing Cort introduced me to RockStar energy drinks (I usually avoid them).
When I saw Mimo for the first time I was shocked. She looked nothing like her normal self. Two days before she had woken up swollen. Apparently her entire body was swollen, including her face. It really freaked Mom out, so she took her to the ER. They admitted her with Congestive Heart Failure. I guess that if Mom had kept her home she would have died. Her kidneys were also failing. As I sat with her she kept seeing people who weren't really there. We felt that the veil must have been really thin for her at that point. She kept saying how scared she was, and that broke my heart every time. I think the thing she asked that stood out most was, "Does God love me?" I couldn't help but tear up and struggle to speak. I told her that of course He does. I got to thinking about challenges we each face and how we seem to go through a cycle. At our low points we feel alone and wonder if God truly loves us, and if so, why are we suffering. After we make it through the low point we are able to feel His love and recognize the lesson (most of the time) He wanted us to learn.
I was thankful that Mimo accepted several priesthood blessings. After being there for a week, she was able to go home. CHF is a permanent condition, so in reality her heart could fail at any time, but her kidneys returned to functioning normally, so that was good. She is doing better, and I'm so thankful to have a little more time with her.

*Oh, the photo is of Mom's hands holding Mimo's hands.

Halloween...

Laura was Sleeping Beauty.

Kaitlyn was Belle.

(Aaron's mom made both of their dresses and did an awesome job!)

Avery was tired of Halloween. She was Pooh Bear.

Laura throwing a ring.

Kaitlyn's turn.

Carving pumpkins a few days before Halloween.

Laura's cat pumpkin.

Kaitlyn's skeleton pumpkin (her's HAD to be scary).

Aaron did the happy pumpkin.

Halloween was a fun event for us, especially learning how things are done in our new community. Our ward didn't have a trunk-or-treat, which was kinda strange. There was a carnival at the elementary school from 430-630 p.m. that the entire town went to, then everyone goes trick-or-treating. Laura and Kaitlyn had a blast going door to door. One house had a tunnel full of spooky things that led to their porch. A guy was dressed as Frankenstein (the most convincing mask I'd ever seen) and walked towards the girlies, moaning. Laura was practical... she asked if it was a costume and since it was he didn't bother her. Kaitlyn was terrified. She kept asking about Frankenstein throughout the night. As we pulled up to our house when we were finished for the night, she asked, "Mommy? Does Frankenstein know where our house is?" I snickered, then replied, "No. Mommy and Daddy do not tell monsters where we live, so you're fine." She never mentioned him after that. I was worried about nightmares, but thank goodness there weren't any.

Extra Credit...

Just found out I won the extra credit for my photography class this week with this photo of Codie's superfun heels. This was what he asked for:

"Create a photograph that looks as if it should be used in a fashion advertisement. Look at some examples in print and on the web for inspiration. Think carefully about the poses and environment."

So yeah, I'm pretty stoked.

Of Things to Come...

I've been such a slacker! I just spent three hours uploading photos to Facebook (created two new albums, yay!). So, I promise I'll get to the blog. I have a lot to post about. But, if you want to see some of the stuff I've been doing in photograhy class, take a look at my FB. I'm still planning on creating a blog just for that stuff, I just need more time! Only 5 weeks left in the semester. I should have plenty of time after that.

I Sure Love These Three...

So yesterday I was able to talk Jordan, Chelsea and Codie into a photo shoot. I had so much fun! We went to several places in Gridley, and I got over 100 great photos, but I only posted these three. I've decided to create another blog devoted to photography and other creative elements. I haven't had time to put it together this week, hopefully soon. I sure love my three youngest siblings. Cort and Ash were in town also, but decided to nap instead of pose. Oh well, maybe during the holidays. I sure have a beautiful family!

Humanity

The human race is walking
toward the
next big thing,
designer wares,
being techno savvy,
filling our wastebaskets
with waste,
wasted time,
wasted means,
wasted energy,
focusing on the self
rather than
the whole.
Taking no thought of who
we might be
killing (murderer!),
homicidal tendency
through consumption,
killing humanity.
Humanity, compassion,
the human family...
what a joke.

I grieve for
the race
called human.


I have been thinking so much lately of the state the world is in right now, specifically how we behave as the human family. I am taking a sociology class that focuses on social problems. I have become aware of so many devastating situations throughout the world, and I've been struggling because I feel helpless. I feel that no matter what, I cannot make a difference on my own. For example, I have a t-shirt from Old Navy that was made in El Salvador. I looked up the working conditions of women sewing jackets and shirts for The North Face and Eddie Bauer (I couldn't find Old Navy at the time). These women make about 58 cents an hour, or, for each coat they finish that retails for $165 they make about 94 cents (per jacket, not per hour). This is less than one-half of one percent of the retail price! After taxes are taken out they take home about 78 cents. These women work in terrible, horrific conditions... they are sexually harrased by supervisors, screamed at and told how worthless they are, threatened to lose their jobs if they are not productive (the work could be shipped to Bangladesh for even less... about 33 cents an hour). They work in a 100 degree room without air conditioning and work mandatory overtime they are not always compensated for. How difficult would it be to pay them at least enough to put them in poverty, not abject poverty, and to treat them like human beings? I have been so sickened by this. If companies insist on taking work from the U.S., they should at least treat the people better.
I don't want to be helpless. I don't want to be ignorant any longer. I want to stand for human rights. Doesn't most change start because one person felt it should happen? Maybe I can make a difference...

My New Love...

Monday I brought home my new baby... a Canon Rebel XSi digital SLR. As many of you probably know, I've been craving a new camera for the past two years or so, but could never justify spending the money (and never had the extra money) on one. I'm taking a photography class and it's just too difficult fulfilling assignments while using a 35mm camera... the reasons are numerous, but to hit just a couple key points: there's no place to develop film in Caliente and it's incredibly expensive to buy and develop film, especially when I may only get a few usable shots from a single roll. So, I decided to look on Craigslist and found a brand new Rebel for an incredible deal. Turns out the girl selling it only had it two weeks before her husband was laid off and had to sell it to pay bills. I could definitely empathize. So, we met and the camera was pristine... still in all the packaging. I bought it. It felt good, kinda like when you've been on a diet for a LONG time and you finally get to eat ice cream. Plus I got to help someone out that is in a situation I was in not too long ago. The above photos are some I've taken the past two days. I love, love, love my new camera...

*Oh, I'm thinking about creating a separate blog just to post my photography on... whatcha think... yay or nay?

First Day of Kindergarten...

Well, my small-fry, Laura, started kindergarten last Wednesday (I know I'm behind, but I've really been busy!). She loves going to school. Nevada still does half-day kindergarten which has been okay, but I sorta wish it were all day. I was driving home from Florida, so I was unable to take care of the first day routine (I was so bummed). I must say that Aaron was a champ. He even sent a photo of her outfit to my phone the night before. I think that earned him some brownie points. She has since found a "best friend" that she plays with at recess, and though she still can't remember the little girl's name (I ask just about every day; I think it's hilarious), I'm sure they'll enjoy playing together throughout the year. I'm so thankful that Mom spent so much time doing preschool activities with Laura (and Kaitlyn) these past 5 months. I already see the difference it's made in the school work she brings home.
I still have a difficult time believing that this adorable, spunky 5-year old is my little Laura. She seems like such a big girl. I'm so proud to have such a wonderful daughter.

*Today Kaitlyn and I went to the school for her preschool screening. She did a great job (I knew she would). Kaitlyn should be starting preschool on September 8th. She's so excited... she's been wanting to go to school with Laura and was very upset that she couldn't. And her classroom will be right next to the kindergarten class, so Kaitlyn thought that was great (we spied on Laura while we were there, hee hee).

Officially a Thunderbird...

Today was my first day at Southern Utah University. I have my ID card and my parking permit, so I officially consider myself an SUU Thunderbird (even though I'm not participating in sports). I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and left the house by 5:15 a.m. to drive the 95 miles to Cedar City, UT. I amazed myself by NOT getting lost on campus (especially since I'd never been there before) and made it to my photography class early. By the way, I know I'm going to LOVE that class! I then had English 2200 - Literature and Culture. I think I'll enjoy the approach to this class... more emotional than analytical. I'm taking Modern Social Problems, mainly to finish my general ed., which I thought I'd finished when I got my AA degree, but no. My last class of the day is Creative Writing. I'm pretty sure I'll like this class. I've always felt that I'm a decent writer, and my first english professor really pushed me in that direction, so I'm excited to branch into the creative aspect of writing (secretly I've always wanted to write a book... maybe I'll get some of the tools I need).

Overall it was a good day, though quite tiring (8:30-4). Starting out with such a long drive isn't super fun, but I can't really complain. I was able to get a full ride for this year between grants and scholarships. I feel so blessed. I absolutely love school and I can't wait to get my degree. I hope that as a teacher I can pass some of my love of learning on to my students.

Pajama Rama & Short Hair?

So I finally broke down and got the girlies new pjs. Pjs are a bit overpriced (at least I think so), so I was delighted when I found the Carter's 4-piece pajama sets on clearance at Target. Bumblebees, rainbows and lambs found their way into my cart. Let me say I had some happy girlies at bedtime. There's nothing like a new pair of pajamas...

If you're wondering what this is, it is a phone call I got today from my mom-in-law saying that Laura and Kaitlyn hid in the bathroom cabinet under the sink, with the bathroom light turned off I might add (so Grandma couldn't see them - so said the girlies), with a pair of scissors, cutting their hair. I'd say about 98% of the hair filling the bowl (yes, full) is Kaitlyn's. Apparently they were saving it for something crafty.

This is Kaitlyn after bathtime, when I cut about 8 inches of hair off because where she decided to cut her own hair was a HUGE (and I mean ginormous) patch on the right side of her head. The sad thing is that I just cut their hair about a week ago. Maybe that's where they got the idea?

This is Kaitlyn after I finished the massacre (okay, I'm exaggerating, but I was sad to cut her beautiful hair so short). I think the only reason she's smiling is because we were done. After she looked in the mirror she wasn't smiling anymore. She told me she doesn't like short hair and I felt so bad for her. But, she's the one who decided to cut her hair in a dark bathroom cupboard. (Of course I still think she's a beautiful little girlie.) Oh the woes of a three-year old girl.